Duke   University   Libraries 

Proclamation  of 
Conf  Pam  12mo  #587 


ffo.  68. 

PROCLAMATION  OF  PEACE. 


J.T  RiV.    .1.    L.   DAGG,   D.  I). 


In  less  tlian  two  years,  war  has  inflicted  on  our  country, 
before  prosperons  and  happy,  evils  so  many,  and  so  great, 
that  the  heart  sickens  in  contemplating  them.  Millions  of 
property  ha\e  been  (fonsumed,  and  millions  of  del  t  have  been 
accumulated,  to  Oppress  unboru  generations..  Extensive  re- 
gions of  our  territory  have  Wen  ravaged  and  desolated,  and 
the  inhabitants  have  been  driven  into  exile,  or  subjected  to 
tyranny  and  iftsulf.  Many  thousands  of  our  citizens  have 
perished  in  battle,  or  by  dieea*#  originating  from  the  hard- 
ships of  military  service  ;  firiA  other  thousands  have  been  so 
maimed  and  enfeebled,  as  to  be  unfitted  for-. the  duties  and  on 
joyments  of  life.  The  land  Is  filled  with  widows  and  orphans; 
and  mourning,  lamentation  and  woe,  have  spread  through 
all  its  extent.'  Oh!  for  a  return  <  f  peace !  When  will  the 
calamity  "be  past?  If  some  envoy  from  European  power 
would  lift  up  his  voice,  and  in  the  name  of  humanity  protest 
against  the  wrongs  which  we  suffer,  what  relief  would  it 
afford  !  And  if  our  enemy,  whether  yielding  to  necessity,  or 
a  sense  of  justice,  should  authorize  a  proclamation  of  peace 
to  go  through  the  land,  how  would  our  hearts  leap  for  joy  ! 
But  gloom,  anxiety,  and  terror  still  prevail.  Where  shall 
we  look  for  help  ?  Ye  men  of  piety,  who,  like  Israel  of  old.* 
have  power  with  God,  why  do  you  not  besiege  the  throue  ot 
grace,  and  give  the  Almighty  no  rest  until  he  interposes   m 


our  behalf?  Ye  tell  ub  that  he  is  merciful,  and  hears  pray- 
er, and  that  he  governs  the  universe,  having  all  hearts  in  his  „ 
band.  If  ten  righteous  men  could  have  saved  Sodom,  why 
do  not  ye ^  save  our  land  ?  Why  has  not  some  angel  been 
sent  to  drive  back  our  invading  foe,  and  to  fly  through  the 
midst  .'f  heaven  with  a  proclamation  of  peace?  Have  ye 
ceased  to  pray,  or  has  God  forgotten  to  be  gracious  ? 

Alas!  No  relief  appears  from  this  quarter.  Although  men 
of  piety  have  prayed,  and  incessant,  fervent,  importunate  pe- 
titions have  gone  forth  from  thousands  of  hearts,  yet  the  aw- 
ful Sovereign  still  holds  in  his  hands  the  two  divisions  of  our 
once  happy  union,  and  dashes  them  against  each  other  like 
two  vessels  of  the  potter,  breaking  them  into  shivers.  Is  God 
our  enemy  ?  Does  he  muster  the  hosts  for  the  battle  ?  And 
is  he  unwilling  to  bo  at  peace  with  us?  Shall  we  charge 
him  with  cruelty,  or  entertain  a  momentary  doubt  that  the 
judge,  of  all  the  cart*,  will  do  right? 

God  reigns,  and  justice  and  judgment  are  the  habitation  of 
his  throne,  though  clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  him. 
Our  feeble  minds  fail  to  penetrate  his  designs,  and  comprehend 
his  ways.  But  onc«thing  is  clear* that  when  his  judgments 
are  abroad  in  the  earth,  the  inhabitants  of  the  world  should 
learn  righteousness.  We  are  assured  that  if  a  man's  ways 
please  the  Lord,  he  niaketh  even  his  enemies  to  be  at  peace 
with  him  :  and  the  present  awful  outpouring  of  divine  judg- 
ments, ought  to  bring  our  iniquities  before  our  face,  and  pros- 
trate us  before  God  in  deep  humility  and  sincere  penitence. 
If  it  has  this  effect,  t^  very  evils  which  we  suffer  may  become 
our  richest  blessings^ 

But  who  is  he  that  dares  charge  God  with  cruelty,  or  com- 
plain because  he  does  not  put  an  end  to  our  troubles?  It. 
cannot  be  justly  alledged  that  he  delights  to  torture  men  with 
the  miseries  of  war.  He  is  pleased  to  be  called  (t  the  God.  of 
peace  ;"  and  he  sent  his  Son,  "  the  Prince  of  Peace,"  into  our 
world  on  an  errand  of  peace  and  mercy  ;  and  at  his  entrance, 
a  multitude  of  the  heavenly  host,  in  a  song  of  joy  proclaimed, 
'^G lory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will 
toward  men/'    When  this  messenger  of  peace  was  about  to 


leave  the  world,  be  said  to  his  dieciples,  ."  Peace  I  leave  with 
you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you  :"  and  then  gave  himself  a 
sacrifice,  that  he  might  effect  our  reconciliation  with  God. 
Raving  risen  from  the  dead,  he  asc.ended  bis  throne  on  high, 
and  sent  his  proclamation,  "  the  gospel  of  peace,"  through 
the  world.     His  heralds  hi  1  the  j  >yft»l   aews,  and  it 

is  our  privilege  to  welcome  them  with  the  exclamation, 
14  How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  <-i  him  thai 
bringethgood  tidings,  that  re  blishi  in  ibh  r.:  that  briugeth  good 
tidings  of  good,  that  publish eth  salvation;  that  paith  unto 
Zion,  thy  God  reigneth.'  'through  nil  the  clangor  of  arms 
and  uproar  of  battle,  this  proclamation  of  peace  sounds  in  our 
ears.  Why,  then  is  it  that  the  war  still  rages,  and  that  men 
still  imbrue  their  hands  in  each  other's  blood  ? 

Heaven,  where  God  has  fixed  his  throne,  is  a  realm  of  peace 
and  love:  and  the  great  Sovereign  has  formed  the  gracious 
design  of  extending  his  peaceful  reign  over  this  wretched  world 
which  we  inhabit:  hut  men  oppose  this  gracious  design.  In 
heaven  God  is  the  centre  uf  all  attraction  and  tnc  source  from 
which  all  derive  bliss ;  fan  on  earth  men  make  themselves 
their  own  centre,  and  selfishly  gather  to  themselves  all  the 
enjoyments  which  they  can  grasp.  Jn  this  selfishness  the 
wars  originate  in  which  men  oppose  and  destroy  One  another. 
"Were  men's  hearts  right  towards  GocJ,  wars  would  cease,  and 
the  peace  and  bliss  ot  heaven  would  come  down  to  dwell  on 
earth;  and  God  would  reign  unopposed  below,  as  he  does  in 
his  high  and  holy  place.  Because  men  oppose  God's  gracious 
design  to  extend  trie  empire  of  peace  and  love,  he  permits 
their  evil  passions  to  manifest  their  malignity,  in  bloody  wars 
and  cruel  oppressions.  That  men  are  at  war  with  one  another 
is  terrible;  but  that  they  are  at  war  with  God  is  more  terrible. 
Because  they  fight  against  him,  he  leaves  them  to  fight  against 
one  another,  that  they  may  see  the  evil  of  their  ways,  and 
turn  away  from  their  wickedness.  Let  us,  then,  even  amidst 
the  roar  of  cannon  and  tumult  of  battle,  listen  to  God's  pro- 
clamation of  peace;  and  if  men  will  not  put  an  end  to  the 
cruel  war  whioh  they  wage  against  us,  let  us  take  hold  of 
God's  «ovenant,  and  be  at   peace   with   him.     His  peace  the 


world  caunot  give,  cannot  take  away,  cannot  prevent,  cannot 
disturb.  We  need  not  wait  for.  it  until  the  war  is  over,  and 
its  calamities  past.  We  may  find  it  on  the  wearisome  march, 
or  in  the  very  presence  of  the  ruthless  foe;  and  we  may  enjoy 
it  in  the  camp  and  in  the  field,  in  perils  and  in  suffering,  in 
triumph  or  in  defeat.  Far  better  would  it -be  to  bo  crushed 
beneath  the  heel  of  our  enemies,  with  the'peace  of  God  in  our 
hearts,  than  to  triurhph  over  them,  and  be  at  war  with  God. 

Such  is  the  delightful  effect  of  the  gospel,  that  it  enables 
me£  to  rejoice  even  in  tribulation.  Every  one  can  conceive 
what  joy  would  thrill  the  hearts  of  all  who  dwell  throughout 
the  land,  if  peace  we/e  proclaimed,  and  the  assurance  giyen 
that,  wc  have  nothing  more  to  fear  from  the  foes  that  assail 
us  on  earth.  But  far  gi  eater  joy  ought  we  to  derive  from  the 
gospel  proclamation  which  gives  assurance  of  peace  writh 
heaven.  "  Blessed  is  the  peophf  that  know  the  joyful  sound  : 
they  shall  walk.  0  Lord,  iu  the  light  of  thy  countenance. " 

All  ye  who  read  this  little  tract,  listen  \o  the  news  with 
exulting  joy.  Lay  down  your  arms;  cease  your  war  against 
God ;  accept  the  grace  which  he  freely  bestows,  and  the  peace 
of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding,  shall  keep  your 
hearts  and  minds  through  Christ  Jesus. 


Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul  ! 

Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly. 
While  the  billows  near  me  roll, 

While  the  tempest  still  is  nigh; 
Hide  me,  O  my  Saviour  hide, 

Till  the  storm  of  life  is  past; 
Safe  into  the  haven  guide,* 

O  receive  my  soul  at  last ! 


Hollinger  Corp. 
pH8.5 


